Controversial Lampros Choutos Confirms Panionios Departure

Controversial Greek striker Lampros Choutos is set to leave Panionios, following another altercation with the club’s management.

The former Inter Milan man and Greece international withdrew from the squad to face AEK Athens at the weekend after learning that he would start the match on the bench.

In an ensuing radio interview with NOVASPORT FM, he confirmed that he would be leaving the Athenian club.

“It isn’t something that I wanted,” Choutos said. “I regret it but if the president decided that that is how it should be, then I agree with him.”

This isn’t the first time Choutos has fallen out with his club’s management this season. He was previously banned from first-team duties at the end of last year following a physical altercation with the-then assistant manager.

He was consequently stripped of the captain’s armband and is again at the centre of controversy – though he has not denied any wrongdoing after announcing he would depart the club.

“When something goes wrong, I think I also have responsibilities,” Choutos said. “Other people might also have them but so do I.

“The only thing I wanted to do during the summer was to stay here and build something for the future.

“It appears now that I was wrong to believe in that.”

The 29 year-old said that he had withdrawn from the squad at the weekend because he was not “psychologically” prepared to face AEK, after apparently having been told by manager Giotis Stamatopoulos that he would in fact not be part of the starting eleven as promised.Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com